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Use Hudson water for firefighting

TJN
7:14 p.m. EDT March 31, 2014

An artist's rendering of the aerial view of the proposed United Water Haverstraw Water Supply Project, which would draw water from the Hudson River, treat and desalinate it for use by the majority of Rockland residents.(Photo: Submitted)

All the pros and cons concerning a desalination plant has left me somewhat confused. As I read in The Journal News, Rockland County has a more than adequate water supply through its aquifers and Lake DeForest; and northern New Jersey is reliant upon a flow of water from Lake DeForest, via the Hackensack River, to quench their needs.

My question is, why is Rockland County (United Water users) being held financially responsible for a desalination plant that does not seem to fit our needs?

If the need were to arise where Rockland County would need to consider the Hudson River as a water supplier, a filtration system could be used versus desalination; and the water processed from that system could be used to sustain the fire hydrants of Rockland County, which would not require a drinking or cleaning grade of water.